MANILA – The administration is determined to bring back ex-presidential spokesman Harry Roque to address allegations of qualified human trafficking related to the activities of the fraud center known as Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga.
On Thursday, when addressing journalists, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that they would soon take action regarding the cancellation of Roque’s passport.
“ Hindi ko pa napirmahan "I haven't signed it yet, but we will take care of that," Remulla stated.
(He) will become an illegal immigrant. If he didn't have asylum and his passport was canceled. (In case he doesn’t receive asylum and his passport is revoked), he will have to be sent back.”
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The head of justice stated that they will additionally request a “red notice” for Roque from Interpol, which is the International Criminal Police Organization.
Roque departed from the Philippines in September after the House of Representatives held him in contempt for not attending hearings about Philippine offshore gambling operations (POGOs). He is now applying for political asylum in the Netherlands.
However, Remulla thinks that the Netherlands will not condone the perpetration of offenses that are under indictment here.
"And they can observe that the justice system is functioning, as we provided him with the necessary legal procedures to respond. He addressed the allegations in Abu Dhabi. We took all factors into account, and the group of prosecutors managed to arrive at a decision that charges should be filed against him," he stated.
The Department of Justice has submitted charges related to both qualified human trafficking and standard human trafficking against Roque. He is accused not only of serving as a legal representative for Whirlwind—the entity that rented out its Porac facility to Lucky South 99—but also for being involved in setting up the POGO operation.
Earlier this month, a court in Pampanga issued arrest warrants against Roque, businesswoman Cassandra Ong, and several others for allegedly being involved in human trafficking connected to the raided POGO center.
The court determined that there was sufficient evidence linking the accused to offenses outlined in the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022. This law targets individuals involved in activities such as recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, obtaining, maintaining, offering, hiring, providing, or receiving a person with the intent to subject them to forced labor, slavery, debt bondage, or involuntary servitude. (PNA)